Thread control for weft replenishing looms



Dec. 7, 1943.

R. G. TURNER 2,336,320

THREAD CONTROL FOR WEFT REPLENISHING LOOMS FiledDec. 14, 19.42 2 Sheets-Sheet l Hwa-ARD G: TURNER 4M/D y, 51: I

ATTORNEYi Dec. 7, 1943. R, G, TURNER 2,3365320 THREAD CONTROL FOR WEFT REPLENISHING LOOMS Filed Deo. 14, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 lNvsN'ron RIM-Ano G-TURNER @aww 74%- ATTonNcY Patented Dec. 7, 1943 THREAD ooN'rRoL son vvinr'i.

REPLENISHING LooMs Richard G. Turner, Worcester, Mass., assigner to Crompton & Knowles Loom Works, Worcester, Mass., a corporation of Massachusetts Application December 14, 1942, Serial No. 458,930

22 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in thread control mechanism for weft replenishing looms and it is the general object of the invention to provide improved mechanism for removing the thread of the outgoing bobbin at the.

time of transfer When the depleted bobbin is expelled' from the shuttle of the weft replenshing loom the thread extending from it to the selvage may be drawn into the shed to form a thick place in the fabric unless removed. In my prior Patent No.Y

ple cutter severs the thread and it is then drawn away from the lay and moved into a container. In the aforesaid patent the pneumatic tube is moved to operating position by the transferrer arm as the latter descends and the tube is returned to its normal raised position as the lay reaches back center.

It is an important object of my present invention to hold the pneumatic tube stationary and provi-de means to lift the thread and cause it to move into the Zone of operation of the pneumatic remover by mechanism which is brought into operation at the time of transfer.-

It is still another object of my presen invention to provide the pneumatic tube with a thread catching lip which is notched to receive the thread lifter, which may conveniently be made of wire, so that the inrushing stream of air is on both sides of the wire to attract the end of the thread which extends from the wire to the shuttle and also the end which extends to the selvage.

As the shuttle enters the shuttle box the thread extends from the front wall of the shuttie to the selvage, and as the lay reaches front center position to beat the thread to the fell the thread extends diagonally outwardly and forwardly because of the fact that the front wall of the shuttle is in front of the fell by a distance equal to the Width of. the shuttle. It is another object of my present invention so to rel-.ate the intake mouth of the pneumatic thread remover and the wire with respect to the fell and front wall of the shuttle as to cause the thread to move along the wire to a position in front of the intake mouth while the wire is still down, and then raise the wire at or near front center to permit it to enter the aforesaid notch. As a result of this construction backward motion of the lay will draw the thread along the wire toward the intake mouth.

The type of loom to which my invention more particularly applies employs a normally stationary lever Which is raised preparatory to transfer for the purpose o'f setting the transfer latch and also moving a transfer revoker into position to prevent transfer should the shuttle be im,- prcperly placed. l It is a still further object of my present invention to provide a trip Vlever mechanism for controlling the position of the thread lifter Wire including an arm which is normally raised but is depressed when the main lever of the mechanism rises to set the vmagazine for transfer. As this latter lever vcompletes its upward movement apart of the trip lever mechanism acts to release another part which controls the wire and the latter thereupon rises .tol lift the thread toward the lintake mouth. Thek trip lever mechanism includesk a hook which moves to releasing position through operation of the main cam and resetting is effected when the main lever descends. L

With these and other objects in View which will appear as the description proceeds, my in- Vention resides in the combinationand arrangement of parts hereinafter described and set forth in the claims. y y

In the accompanying drawings, wherein a convenient embodiment of my invention is set forth,

Fig. 1 is an end elevation of a loom having my invention applied thereto,

Fig. 2 is an enlarged view of a portion oi Fig. 1 but viewed from the center ofthe loom,j

Fig,`3 is an enlarged'vertical sectionon line-.

3;-3 of Fig. 1, A v J Fig. 4 is a plan view of the structure shown in Fig. 3, y

Fig. 5v is an enlarged vertical section on line 5 5 of Fig. 3, A n

. Fig. 6 is an enlarged vertical section on line 5 6 of Fig. l, n

' Fig. 'Tis a View similar to Fig. 3 but with the parts in a different position,

Fig. 8 is a detailed plan View showing the relation between the shuttle, the thread, and my invention when the lay is on front center, and

Fig, 9 is a vertical section on line 9-9 of Fig. 2 on an enlarged scale showing the lower end ofthe thread extractor which is used with my invention.

Referring to Fig. l, the loom frame i5 supports top and bottom shafts I6 and Il, respectively, which rotate in the direction of arrows a and b, the top shaft I6 completing a rotation every pick of the loom and the bottom shaft completing one rotation in two picks. The lay I8 is attached by connectors I9 to cranks 2B on the top shaft and swings backwardly and forwardly about the rocker shaft 2l.

The lay is provided with a shuttle box B having a box front 22 shown as a binder provided with an opening 23 to receive a thread cutter 24. The shuttle S when in the box B is connected to the selvage L bymeans of a thread T which extends into the box along the front wall of the shuttle between the latter and the box front 22 and across the opening 23 in position to be severed by the cutter 24. The lay when on the front center position shown in Fig. 8 has the reed R at the fell F of the cloth and the box back 25 is in forward position aligned with the fell so that the thread T is inclined to the right and forwardly.

The magazine M may be of the rocking multicolor type and is mounted on a pivot 30 held in fixed position in the Lipper part of the loom. Operating connections designated generally at 3| connect the magazine to a hook 32 which can be positioned for operationy by a stud 33 on a normally stationary lever 34 but mounted on a fixed stud 35 at the bottom of the loom for limited rocking movement. A second lever 36 also on stud 35 has a regularly recurring movement the cycle of which is completed in two picks of the loom. This latter lever carries a stud 31 which enters a groove of the cam 38 secured to the bottom shaft I1. A dog 39 on lever 3S normally clears a lifting lug 49 on lever 34, but when a replenishing operation of the loom is to occur the dog is moved to the left as viewed in Fig. 6 by one or the other of two dog placers 4l and 42, the latter being shown in Fig. 6 in indicating position to cause the dog 39 to move under lug 40 as lever 36 rises.

An air pump 45 is held in xed position on the loom frame and has a piston 45 driven by a rod 41 connected to the upper end of the lever 48 which turns about a fixed pivot 49 on the loom frame. A connector 50 between lever 43 and the lay is the means by which piston 46 is caused to move back and forth in timed relation with the lay to create a partial vacuum in the cylinder to the left of the piston as viewed in Fig. 6 on backward strokes of the lay. A pneuvmatic tube leads forwardly from the front of the air pump and is connected to a thread accumulator 52, held in fixed position on the loom frame. A second pneumatic tube 53 leads from the bottomof the accumulator toward the oenter of the loom to be attached to a Ypneumatic thread remover to be described hereinafter.

The magazine includes a transferrer arm-55 with its latch 56 to be engaged by a bunter 51 on the lay. A rod 58 extends upwardly from the forward end of lever 34 and is connected to a rocking head 59 on fixed stud B0. The head has a latch lifter 6| and a shuttle position detector 62. The weft detector A63 is of the electrical type and is connected to a solenoid 64 having a plunger 65 which operates the mechanism shown in Fig. 6. The detector operates when the lay is at front center and the shuttle is on the vmagazine side of the loom, and in indicating weft exhaustion operates by the well-known mechanism shown in Fig. 6 to throw one or the other of the dog placers into dog engaging D0- sition, depending upon which shuttle is active.

The loom operates with two shuttles either of which can be replenished from the magazine M, the shuttle boxes not shown at the opposite end of the loom from that shown in Fig. l being connected by a flexible link 66 to a rocking lever 61 movable about a fixed stud 68 on the bracket 69 secured on the outer end of stud 35. It is by means of lever 61 that the hook 32 is moved either into or out of the path of the stud 33 when the right end of lever 34 descends incident t0l a weft replenishing operation. For further understanding of the matter thus far described reference may be had to prior Patent Nos. 2,199,-

353, 2,199,296, 2,162,290 and 2,199,354.

-and then to the other, entering box B on alternate picks of the loom. On each backward stroke of the lay the pump creates a partial vacuum in tube 53 tending to draw any weft thread in it toward the accumulator 52. The lever 34 is normally idle and is rocked only on transferring beats of the loom to cause upward movement of the left end of the lever as viewed in Fig. 1. The cutter 24, which is normally in forward idle position, moves through the opening 23 against a plate 10 on the front wall of the shuttle to cut the thread between the selvage and the shuttle delivery eye on transferring beats. That part of the thread of the outgoing bobb'm to the right of the cutter as viewed in Fig. 8 moves down out of the shuttle box with the depleted bobbin, but the end of the thread extending to the left of the cutter must be removed otherwise it will be drawn into the shed and it is this part of the thread to which my invention more particularly relates.

In carrying my invention into effect I secure the end of the tube 53 remote from the accumulator to a thread extractor tube 15 mounted on a rod 15 movable forwardly in a stand 11 secured in fixed position on the loom, preferably to the stud 18 which supports the transferrer arm 55. The rod 16 carries a collar 19 to receive the rearward thrust of a compression spring the forward end of which bears against a bearing 8| formed as part of the stand 11. A second bearing 82 on the stand limits rearward movement of the collar and together with bearing 8| guides rod 16. As distinguished from prior constructions shown in certain of the aforesaid patents, the rod 15 in the present instance is held in fixed position and the extractor tube 15 is normally in the position shown in Fig. 2 and will remain in that position unless struck by a misplaced shuttle, at which time the spring 89 yields to prevent breakage.

A thread placer 85 which may take the form of a flexible steel wire has the forward end thereof anchored as at 86 to a part of the loom frame, such as the breast beam 81, and has the rear part thereof attached to a spring 99 the rear end of which is supported by a clip 9| secured to the loom frame. The wire has secured thereto a small rod head 92 held adjustably along the wire by a set screw 93. A light weight rod or wire 94 is secured to the rod head and extends downwardly to operating mechanism which normally permits the head to be raised but acts at the time of transfer to lower the head and therefore the wire 85. Spring Si) is strong enough to hold wire 85 taut and also sustain the weight of rod 94 and parts connected thereto to be described, holding the rod and p-arts normally raised.

The mechanism connected to rod 94 is shown' more particularly in Figs. 3, 4,5 andv andincludes a stand secured to the loom frame and supporting a xed studv IIB I. Front and back levers 95 and |36, respectively, as viewed in Fig. 3, are mounted on the stud IBI, lever ISE having a hub IM which receives the rear end of atorsion spring ISB the forward end of which is held by a collar lila adjustable angularly on the stud and held in iixed position thereon by a set screw I 23. Spring i533 tendsl to; turn lever |95 clockwise as seen in Figs. 3 and '7. An arm Il? of lever S5 carries a depending stem H3 having. a cross head IUI for engagement with a lifter H5 secured to lever 34. The torsion spring holds the cross head H11 against the lifter, and sincethe forward end of lever 34 is normally down, the left end of lever H35 will be normally raised, as shown in Fig. 3'.

Lever I 96 has a hub Illrotatable freely on the stud I ill and is attached as at l2! to the lower end of the rod 94. A lug E22 secured to lever H35 is positioned for engagement with a trip mechanism I23 on lever i535 which comprises a lever 24 having an upright arm |25 formed with a hooked head E25 for engagement with the lug 22. a vertically adjustable releasing screw 28 for engagement with an adjacent fixed part of the loom frame I5. The lever 124 is mounted on a stud 33 secured to lever H35 and the upright arm 25 is held against a stop I3 on lever IBS by a compression spring. 32 the lef-.t end of which bears against the arm 25 and the right end of which bears against a lug L35. on lever 05.

In the operation of the invention thus far described, the thread placer or wire 85 is normally up and is high enough above the path of the shuttle not to interfere with picking The spring Si] holds the wire 85 up and` also maintains the lever I l in raised position with the lug I22 under the head I2@ of the trip mechanism. Under these conditions the lever Si'. is normally down so that the arm I l2 is in low position.

When a transferring operation is to occur lever 3d is rocked by the dog 39 so that the left end thereof as viewed in- Fig. 1 is raised to set the transfer latch shuttle position detector in transfer position. This upward movement occurs while the lay is still in rear position and before the depleted shuttle enters the shuttle box. When the lever 3ft rises the lifter H5 raises the cross head IM and rocks lever 85 in a counterclockwise direction from the position of 3 downwardly toward the position of Fig. 7, and

during this movement the hooked head |211 lowers the lever H35 so that the rod Si)y and rod head 92 are depressed. The wire l5 is therefore lowered, moving into a transverse slot It!! on the lay to a position below the shuttle path. As the shuttleA enters the box its thread T will pass over the wire 85.

, The shuttle is ordinarily boxed approximately at bottom center with the lay near the midpoint of its forward travel. The parts are so timed that after the shuttle is boxedcontinued downward movement of lever H35 due to the raising of the forward end of lever 34 will cause release screw i to engage the loom frame, whereupon the lever .'24 rocks in a clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 3 and moves to the position in Fig. 7, thereby releasin T the lug i2?. Since lever IOB is ree to turn 0n stud itil, the spring 9G immediately lifts the left end of lever it as soon as the latter is released by the trip mechanism, and the A horizontal arm |21 of lever IZA carriesV wireV is raised to its normal position, lifting the thread T with it asy it rises.

When the shuttle enters box B the thread T is in the shed behind: the fell of the cloth and also behind the extractor 15. As the lay moves forwardly to beat up the weft the thread assumes the diagonal position shown in Fig. 8 and moves `forwardly to a position in front of the extractor 'I5 before the trip mechanism releases lever 35. The raising of wire 35 is therefore delayed until the lay has reached a vsuiiiciently forward position to place the thread in front of the extractor l5. The thread is then cut in the shuttle box incident to a transferring operation, and as the lay moves rearwardly the right'end of the thread as viewed in Fig. 8 also moves back- -wardly along the raised wire 85 toward the extractor and reaches the latter before the shuttle is picked. The air pump actsto create a partial vacuum within the extractor during backward. movement of the lay, and therefore as the shuttle is picked that part of the thread extending kfrom the extractor 'I5 toward the shuttle boxV is drawn into the extractor, having been placed favorably for this operation by upward motion of the wire 85 and also the rearward movement of the lay. At some subsequent time the thread is cut at the selvage by a temple cutter C, after which the whole piece of thread is drawn into the extractor and moved into the accumulator cylinder 52.

An important feature of my invention relates to the lower end of the extractor '15, particularly the relation between the extractor and the thread placing wire 85. As shown in Fig. 9 the extractor tube 'I5 is provided with a downwardly extending lip or stop 59 preferably behind the intake mouth I5I in the bottom of the extractor tube. This lip is notched as at' I52 to receive the thread placing wire 85. The notch is preferably centrally located with respect to the mouth so that air drawn into the extractor will travel. along' both sides of the thread placing wire. The lip extends below the wire when the latter is in raised position and it is for this reason that as the lay recedesY and the threadr travels along the wire it will be drawn to a position closely adjacent to and Linder the intake mouth where it will be held or trapped by the combined action of the lip and the placing wire untilit lis drawn into the extractor. have shown the lip as an extension cf the tube of which the extractor is made, but I do not wish necessarily to be limited to this particular form, since,V it is suflicient ifv a stop extends below the thread placing vwire when the latter is raised adjacent tothe intake mouth to position the thread correctly-with re spect to the extractor. y

The release mechanism which has, been described in connection with Figs. 3 and 7 will operate satisfactorily with the. types of cam pre-- viously used on the bottom shafts of looms to which this invention more particularly relates, but it is preferable where possible to give the forward end ofl lever 3@ a slight additional upward movement beyond that which is otherwise. necessary for setting the magazine for transfer for the purpose of insuring movement of the hooked head E26 away from the lug 22. I may therefore form the cam I38` with a slight rise- IEU. This part I6@ of the cam does not engage the stud on lever 3S until after rod has had its required upward movement to set the magazine for transfer and they slight additional upward movement of the forward end of lever 34 does not interfere with the proper operation at the proper time of the other parts of the loom which are controlled by the rod 58. y

In the foregoing I have described a pneumatic system operated by a lay actuated pump acting to create a partial vacuum in the intake mouth during backward movement of the lay. I do not wish thus to be limited in the practice of my invention, however, as a stream of air can be drawn continuously into the intake mouth by replacing pump 45 with a rotary pump, or by connecting tube 53 to a vacuum system.

From the foregoing it will be seen that I have provided means by which the extractor tube 'l5 can be held in stationary position and the thread lifted to a position where it can be drawn into the intake mouth. The wire 85 will be below the thread at the beginning of the operation of the mechanism, and the thread placer will rise preferably late enough in the forward movement of the lay to permit the thread to have moved to a position in front of lip 150 and the intake mouth. It will also be seen that the thread placing wire cooperates with the lip |59 of its equivalent during backward movement of the lay to direct the thread to a position closely adjacent to the intake mouth. It will be seen that I provide a trip lever mechanism which acts due to movement of the usual lever 34 to permit the wire 85 to rise at the correct time in the loom cycle while the thread is in front of the intake mouth. It will also be noted that the timing of the mechanism is such that the wire 85 rises to trap the thread in front of the notched lip of the extractor 'I5 before the pick which immediately follows transfer, and because of this relationship there is no danger that the thread extending between the wire 85 and the thread cutter will be drawn by the shuttle into the warp shed.

Having thus described my invention it will be seen that changes and modifications may be made therein by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention and I do not wish to be limited to the details herein disclosed, but what I claim is:

1. In a weft replenishing loom having a lay provided with a shuttle box containing a shuttle from which a thread extends to the adjacent selvage, a pneumatic thread remover having a stationary intake mouth in front of the lay and into which a draft of air is drawn to attract a thread into the remover, a thread placer kextending transversely of the lay from a point in front of the intake mouth rearwardly toward the path traversed by the shuttle, and means operative on a replenishing beat of the loom to raise the thread placer from a position below said mouth and below the path traversed by the shuttle after the latter and the thread connected thereto has passed over the Vplacer toa position adjacent to said intake mouth to lift the thread toward said intake mouth after the thread due to advance movement of the lay has moved to a position forward of said intake mouth.

'2. In a weft replenishing loom having a backwardly and forwardly reciprocating lay provided with a shuttle box containing a shuttle from which a thread extends to the adjacent selvage, a pneumatic thread remover having a stationary intake mouth in front of the lay and into which a draft of air is drawn to attract a thread into the remover, a thread placer extending from a point in front of the intake mouth rearwardly toward the path traversed by the shuttle, a member having a movement incident to a weft`replen` ishing operation of the loom, and means controlled by said member and operative subsequent to passage of the shuttle and the thread connected thereto over said placer as the shuttle enters said box to raise the placer from a position below said shuttle path and below the intake mouth to a position adjacent to said intake mouth to lift the thread toward said mouth during the latter part of the forward movement of the lay.

3. In a weft replenishing loom having a backwardly and forwardly reciprocating lay provided with a shuttle box containing av shuttle from which a thread extends to the adjacent selvage, a pneumatic thread remover having a stationary intake mouth and into which a draft of air is drawn to attract a thread into the remover, an elongated thread placer extending transversely of the lay, means to support the forward end of said placer at a point in front of said intake mouth,- a member having a movement incident to a replenishing operation of the loom, a lifter for said placer, and means connected to said placer and operated by said member to Cause said lifter to raise the placer from a position below the path of the shuttle and below said intake mouth to a position adjacent to said intake mouth after said shuttle and the thread connected thereto has passed over the placer in the movement thereof toward said shuttle box during the latter part of the forward movement of the lay to move said thread toward said intake mouth.

4. In a weft replenishing loom having a lay provided with a shuttle box containing a shuttle from which a thread extends diagonally rearwardly to the adjacent selvage when the lay is in forward position, a pneumatic thread remover having a stationary intake mouth in front of the lay and into which a draft of air is drawn to attract a thread into the remover, said intake mouth being located rearward of the thread when the lay is in forward position, a thread placer for said thread having the forward end thereof supported with respect to the loom frame at a point forward of the intake mouth, a lifter for said thread placer, a member having a movement incident to a replenishing operation of the loom, and mechanism controlled by said member and cooperating with said lifter to effect upward movement of said placer from a position below the path of the shuttle after the latter and the thread connected thereto have passed over the placer prior to entry into said shuttle box subsequent to movement of the thread to a position forward .of said intake mouth due to forward movement of the lay to move said thread to a position adjacent to said intake mouth.

5. In a weft replenishing loom having a lay provided with a shuttle box containing a shuttle from which a thread extends to the adjacent selvage, a pneumatic thread remover having a stationary intakemouth forward of the lay and into which a draft of air is drawn to attract a thread into the remover, said thread extending diagonally forwardly from the fabric toward said shuttle box when the lay is in front position and said intake mouth being located rearward of the thread when the lay is in forward position, a member having a movement incident to a replenishing operation of the loom, a controller for said placer operated by said member when the latter has said movement to locate the placer in a position below the path of the shuttle as the latter approaches said shuttle box on a replenishing beat of the loom, a lifter normally tending to raise said placer, and trip mechanism operatively connected to said controller and operated by said member subsequent to movement of the shuttle and thread connected thereto over said placer as the shuttle approaches said box to enable said lifter to raise the placer after the thread due to advance movement of the lay has moved to a position forward of said intake mouth, said lifter raising the placer to a position adjacent to said mouth and causing said placer to raise the thread to a position in front of said intake mouth.

6. In a weft replenishing loom having a lay provided with a shuttle box containing a shuttle from which a thread extends to the adjacent selvage, a pneumatic thread remover having a stationary intake mouth into which a draft of air is drawn to attract a thread into the remover, said thread extending diagonally forwardly from the fabric toward said shuttle box when the lay is in front position and said intake mouth being located rearward of the thread when the lay is in forward position, a thread placer for said thread, means tovsupport the forward end of said placer at a point forward of said intake mouth, a member having a movement incident to a replenishing operation of the loom, a lifter for said placer tending normally to hold said placer in a position adjacent said intake mouth, land controller mechanism for the placer operated by said member when the latter has said movement and effective to move said placer against the action of said lifter to a position below the path traversed by the shuttle before the latter reaches said placer as the shuttle approaches said box and subsequently release said placer to enable the lifter to raise said placer after the shuttle has passed over said placer when travelling toward said shuttle box to enable the lifter to raise said placer to move the thread to a position in front of said intake mouth lafter the thread due -to forward movement of the lay has reached a position forward of said intake mouth.

7. In a weft replenishing loom having a lay provided with a shuttle box containing a shuttle from which a thread extends to the adjacent selvage, a pneumatic thread remover having a stationary intake mouth into which a draft of air is drawn to attract a thread into the remover, a thread placer extending rearwardly from a positio-n in front of the intake mouth toward the path traversed by the shuttle as the latter approaches said box, a thread stop depending from said thread remover and rearwardly of said intake mouth, a member having a movement incident to a replenishing operation of the loom, a lifter for said placer, Iand mechanism controlled by said member and effective by a force derived-from said member when the latter has said Ymovement to locate the placer below the path of the shuttle and below said stop when the shuttle approaches said box and eiective thereafter due to continued movement of the member to release said placer after the shuttle and the thread connected thereto has passed over said placer when moving `toward said bc-x to enable said lifter to raise the placer after the thread due to advance movement of the lay has reached a position forward of said holder and cause said placer to lift -the thread to a position in front of said stop and intake mouth.

8. In a weft replenishing loom having a lay provided with a shuttle box containing a shuttle from which a thread extends to the adjacent selvage, a pneumatic thread remover having a stationary intake mouth in front of the lay and into which a draft of air is drawn to attract va thread into the remover, a thread trapping lip .extending downwardly from the remover behind the intake mouth, a thread placer, a support for the forward end of the placer located at -a point in front of said lip, said placer extending rearwardly from said support 4toward the path .traversed by the shuttle, .a member having a movementy incident to a weft replenishing operation of the loom, and moving mechanism for the placer under control of said member and including apart to locate the placer below said lip and under the path traversed by .the shuttle as the latter approaches said box on .a replenishi-ng beat of the loom and said moving mechanism including also a lifter lto raise said thread .placer subsequent to passage of the shuttle over said placer as the shuttle approaches said box to ra'isefthe thread to a position vabove the bottom of said lip to locate the thread in a position above said placer and in frontof said lip and intake mouth.

9. In Aa weft replenishing loom having a lay provided with a shuttle box containing a shuttle from which a thread -extends to the adjacent selvag-e, a pneumatic .thread remover having a stationary intake mouth into `which a .draft of air is .drawn to attract .a thread into the remover, a vlip projecting downwardly :from said remover behind lthe intake lmouthsaid lip having .a downwardly opening notch intermediate the sides rof the intake mouth measured in the directionof :the length of -the lay, a thread .placer extending rearwardly from `a point in front of .said lip toward `the path traversed by the shuttle, a .member lhaving va movement incident to 'a rweft replenishing operation of the loom, and .control mechanism for the placer including a ydepressor for -the placer to locate .the latter below said lip `out of said notch and below the .path of the shuttle .as Athe latter.

approaches said shuttle .box on .a replenishing beat of .the loom .to cause the shuttle and .thread connected thereto to pass over the placer, said control mechanism including also .a lifter to raise the .placer after the shuttle has passed over said placer when moving toward the shuttle .box .on a replenishing beat lof the :loom to elevate said placer to a position within said `notch .and `cause -said placer to lift the .thread to a position above said placer and in front-0f said rlip and intake mouth.

10. In a weftreplenishing loom vhaving .a lay provided with a .shuttle box containing a shuttle from whicha thread extends tothe adjacent selvage, .a pneumatic thread remover havingastationary intake mouth into -wh-ich a ldraft of .air is drawn to attract .a thread into the remover, Atwo members capable of cooperating to form-a thread .trap adjacent to said vintake mouth, one of said members being permanently located behind said mouth and-the other member being movable vertically with respect to `the Vrst member, and control Vmechanism for said other member -to move the latter below the pathof 'the shuttle to cause the latter to pass over lsaidV other member on replenishing beats Yof the Aloom and :locate said other member below Vsaid ,iirst member, said conrol mechanism Vincluding also ajlifte'r Yoperative subsequent to-movement ofthe shuttle over said -other member to-lift the latter lto lift t'huetVh-read yto a Aposition `in vfront of the rst member and vcause said -membersto `cooperate to form said thread trap Y ll.' In a weft replenisjhing rloom -havinga lay provided with ya shuttle box containing a shuttle from which athread extends to the adjacent selvage, a pneumatic thread remover having a stationary intake mouth into which a draft of airis drawn to attract a thread into the remover, a thread placer extending in a direction trans-.- versely of the lay, a member having a movement incident to a replenishing operation of the loom, lifter means tending normally to raise the placer to a position adjacent to said intake mouth, and trip lever mechanism operatively connected to Ythe placerV and located for movement by said member on replenishing beats of the loom and .operative first to lower said placer against the action of saidlifter means to a position below the path of t-he shuttle and thereafter release said placer to enable the lifter means to raise the placer after theshuttle has passed beyond said placer in its movement toward said shuttle box for the purpose of raising the thread toward said intake mouth.

12. In a weft replenishing loom having a lay provided with a shuttle box containing a shuttle .from which a thread extends to the adjacent selvage, a pneumatic thread remover having a stationary intake mouth into which a draft of air is drawn to attract a thread into the remover, a thread placer, a member having a movement incident to a replenishing operation of the loom, a lifter for said placer tending normally to hold .the latter raised and adjacent to said mouth, and trip lever mechanism including a part operatively connected to said placer, a second part positioned for operation by said member when the latter has said movement and a releasable third part normally connecting the rst two parts to cause the latter to effect movement of the placer to a position below the path of the shuttle on .replenishing beats of the loom when said member has said movement, said third part thereafter operative to release the first two parts to enable said lifter to raise the placer to lift the thread toward said mouth after the shuttle has 4passed said placer in the movement thereof toward said shuttle box.

. 13. In control mechanism for the thread placer of a weft replenishing loom having a member .which moves incident to a replenishing operation of the loom and having a pneumatic thread l,remover provided with an intake mouth, said control mechanism comprising a lifter normally tending to hold the placer near said. intake `mouth, and said mechanism including triplever -means having one part operatively connected to the placer, having a second part positioned for a placer depressing movement by said member, andhaving a third part normally connecting the `lirst two parts but moved by a force derived from said member to disconnect said rst and second parts, said third part when in normal position causing the rst part to effect movement of the placer against the action of said lifter when the ,second part has a depressing movement.

. I 14. In control mechanism for the thread placer .of a weft replenishing loom having a member lmoving incident to a replenishing operation of the loom and having a pneumatic thread remover provided with an intake mouth adjacent to `the normal position of said placer, saidcontrol mechanism comprising a lifter tending normally Yto hold said placer adjacent to said mouth, and said control mechanism also comprising two levers one of which is operatively connected to the placer and the other of which is located for operation by said member, and a trip forming part ,of said control mechanism normally connecting the two levers but movable by a force derived from said member to disconnect said levers.

15. In thread control mechanism for a weft replenishing loom having a pneumatic thread remover provided with an intake mouth and a thread placer movable with respect to said intake mouth, means tending normally to maintain the thread placer adjacent to said mouth, trip lever mechanism comprising two levers normally connected by a detent which is movable from ncrv mal position to release said 'levers from each other, one of said levers operatively connected to said placer, an operating member for the weft replenishing loom, a cam having an inclineoperatively related to said member during a weft replenishing beat of the loom to give said member a movement against said other lever to effect down motion of the placer with respect tosaid mouth by a force transmitted through said detent, said cam having a second incline to `give said member a further movement in said given direction, and stop means to cooperate with said detent during said further movement of said member to move said detent from normal to disconnecting position relatively to said levers and release said one lever to enable the lifter to raise said one lever and thread placer.

16. In thread control mechanism for a weft replenishing loom having a pneumatic thread remover provided with an intake mouth and a thread placer movable with respect to said intake mouth, lifter means tending normally to maintain the thread placer adjacent to said mouth, trip control mechanism for said placer comprising two levers and a detent normally connecting said levers, one of said levers being operatively connected to the placer to effect down movement of the latter away from said intake mouth when the other lever has a depressing movement, an o-perating member positioned for engagement with and operation of said other lever, and a ca'm operatively connected to said member during a replenishing beat of the loom and having an incline to cause said member to give a depressing movement to said other lever when said levers are connected by said detent to cause the first lever to effect down movement of the placer away from said intake mouth, said cam having a second incline effective to give said member a further movement after the ,placer has been moved by the iirst lever to a position below said intake mouth, and stop means for said detent to cause movement of the latter during said further movement of the member to release said levers and enable the lifter means to raise the rst lever and said placer to locate the latter in normal position with respect to the intake mouth independently of said other lever.

17. In thread control mechanism for a weft replenishing loom having a, lay provided with a shuttle box containing a shuttle from which a thread extends to the adjacent selvage, said loom Vhaving normally idle parts settable to operating position preparatory to a replenishing operation of the loom, said parts when set in operating position effective during the latter part of forward movement of the lay to effect replenishment, a pneumatic thread remover having a stationary intake mouth, a thread placer norlmally adjacent to said intake mouth, an operating member having two successive movements in the same direction and connected to Vsaid parts and effective during the first of said successive movements to set said parts for replenishment, and control mechanism for said thread placer boperatively interposed between said member and said placer and comprising disconnectable elements one of which is operatively connected to the placer and the other of which is positioned for engagement by said member during both of said successive movements thereof, said member during the first of the successive movements thereof on a replenishing beat of the loom causing said disconnectable elements to effect downward movement of the placer away from said intake mouth when said member is setting said parts for a replenishing operation of the loom, said control mechanism being so constructed that said operating member during the second of said successive movements thereof effects disconnection of said elements subsequent to initiation of the replenishing operation of the loom to enable said lifter to return said thread placer to the normal position thereof adjacent to said intake mouth.

18. In thread control mechanism for a weft replenishing loom having a reciprocating lay provided with a shuttle box to receive a shuttle from which a thread extends in a diagonal direction rearwardly and toward the selvage when the lay is in front center position so that a portion of said thread is in front of the lay, the loom having provision for cutting the thread in the shuttle box on replenishing beats of the loom, a pneumatic thread remover having a stationary thread intake mouth located between the shuttle box and selvage and behind the thread when the lay is on front center, a thread placer extending transversely of the lay, means to cause the thread placer to be under the path traversed by the shuttle when the latter approaches the shuttle box on transferring beats of the loom to cause the thread to pass over the placer, and means thereafter to raise the thread placer after the thread due to advance motion of the lay has moved forwardly along said placer to a position forward of the intake mouth to raise the thread to a position in front of the intake mouth and cause said thread by the backward movement of the lay to move rearwardly along said placer to the intake mouth.

19. In thread control mechanism for a weft replenishing loom having a reciprocating lay provided with a shuttle box to receive a shuttle from which a thread extends in a diagonal direction rearwardly and toward the selvage when the lay is in front center position so that a portion of said thread is in front of the lay, the loom having provision for cutting the thread in the shuttle box on replenishing beats of the loom, a pneumatic thread remover having a stationary thread intake mouth located between the shuttle box and selvage and to the rear of the thread when the lay is on front center, a normally raised thread placer extending transversely of the lay adjacent to the intake mouth, means operative incident to a replenishing operation of the loom to lower the thread placer to a position below the shuttle path to cause the shuttle and thread to pass over the placer, and means to raise the thread placer to lift the thread to a position in front of the intake mouth after the thread by reason of the advance motion of the lay has moved forwardly along said placer, the subsequent backward movement of the lay prior to the pick immediately following transfer causing the thread to move rearwardly along said placer to the intake mouth.

21'). A pneumatic thread intake tube for a loom operating with a thread placer movable toward and from the tube, said tube comprising a hollow member provided with a thread receiving mouth, and .a lip on the tube adjacent to said mouth and notched to receive said placer.

2l. A pneumatic thread intake tube for a loom operating with a thread placer movable toward and from the tube, said tube comprising a hollow member provided with a thread receiving mouth, and a depending lip on said tube behind the intake mouth formed with a downwardly opening notch to receive said placer.

22. In a weft rep-lenishing loom having a lay provided with a shuttle box containing a shuttle from which a thread extends to the adjacent selvage, a pneumatic thread remover having a stationary intake mouth into which a draft of air is drawn to attract a thread into the remover, an elongated thread placer extending transversely of the lay and having the front end thereof forward of said intake mouth and having the rear end thereof back of said intake mouth, means to mount said thread placer for rising and falling movement toward and from said intake mouth, a member having a movement incident to a replenishing operation of the loom, and control mechanism for said placer operated by said member and eifective to cause said placer to have an upward movement throughout the length thereof from a position below the shuttle path to a position adjacent to the intake mouth after the thread due to advance movement of the lay has moved along said placer to a position forward of the intake mouth for the purpose of lifting said thread toward said intake mouth.

RICHARD G. TURNER. 

